McLaughlin arrives as a key man for club and country after long journey
MANY miles of track separate Harrogate Railway Athletic from Hampden Park but the journey from non-league football has given Jon McLaughlin the perspective to handle his latest career promotion with a clear head.
Just a few weeks after signing for Rangers as back-up goalkeeper, McLaughlin has an opportunity to stake a claim as Scotland’s No 1.
An injury to Allan McGregor has seen the 32-year-old start the last five matches for Steven Gerrard and seal a place in
Steve Clarke’s squad for the Nations League ties against Israel and the Czech Republic.
With David Marshall short of match sharpness after his move to Derby County, McLaughlin could well pick up his third cap against the Israelis on Friday.
Back in the days when he combined studying at Leeds Metropolitan University with his role as a part-timer with
Railway, the Edinburgh-born keeper could scarcely have dreamed of this opportunity.
He said: ‘Between the ages of 18 to 20, I was in full-time education, working and at university, just playing football for the enjoyment of it. It was like a hobby.
‘I didn’t envisage that 12 years down the line I’d have a couple of international appearances and be playing my football for a massive club like this.
‘It wasn’t a grand plan. It has been a great journey and I’m just fortunate to have been given opportunities along the way.
‘That first opportunity came from Stuart McCall.’
The former Rangers midfielder, who served the club with distinction as a player and later managed the club, gave McLaughlin (right) his first professional contract at Bradford City, signing him from his second club, Harrogate Town.
‘I was with him for a few years,’ he continued. ‘When I first joined, it was the chance to see if I could integrate myself into the professional environment and cut it at that level.
‘They’d seen something in me but it took a few years to find my way into the first team.
‘I was greatly encouraged someone like that saw the potential in me.’ From
Bradford, he moved to Burton Albion and then to Hearts, where he had a solid season in the Premiership that led to his international debut under Alex McLeish.
While many excused themselves from a derided trip to Peru and Mexico, McLaughlin was an eager traveller and was rewarded with a memorable appearance in the Azteca Stadium.
While at Sunderland, he earned a second cap under Clarke in a 6-0 thrashing of San Marino in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Now comes a chance to play in a more consequential fixture as the latest edition of the Nations League commences this week.
‘I hope the fact I am playing for Rangers helps to increase Steve Clarke’s opinion of me,’ he said. ‘I am proud to be called up. David Marshall has been the regular No1 and has got a fantastic move to Derby.
‘Because I’m playing regularly, hopefully going into these internationals I will have a slight advantage. I am in a good place and I feel I am up to the task.
‘It’s a fortunate situation for me. Allan has had an injury and that helped me to get some early game time at Rangers, which has allowed me to integrate quickly.’
After last weekend’s win over Kilmarnock, and McLaughlin’s fourth successive clean sheet, Gerrard admitted he was in no rush to recall McGregor.
Even if he retains his place after the international break, McLaughlin will not rest on his laurels. He added: ‘I have an appreciation for what I have now. I know first hand the difference between lifestyles from then and now.
‘I was in work and fulltime education, the amount of hours you have to dedicate to that and how different it is to being a professional player.
‘It gave me a very good grounding, that fire to make sure every day you do all you can to improve, as you know you are in a very privileged position.
‘At Harrogate Railway, it was a couple of men and a dog watching games. It is the polar opposite to what I’m doing now — going out at Ibrox, Hampden and the other stadiums.’